SPG reneges on the $20 upgrade offer in Asia-Pacific.

image

A couple of days I wrote about the SPG offer in the Asia-Pacific, where the promotional mailer and the website stated that if you booked by March 31, 2012, you could get an upgraded room for $20 over the ‘standard rates’. As the offer is made out to be, it just needs to be prepaid. However, when I tried comparing, all I could come up with was 60-80$ upgrade offers, no less. The Loyalty Traveler had a similar experience with this promo.

I wrote to SPG to bring this aberration to their notice, and here is what I heard back a while back:

image

Here is the response I received today:

image

I immediately contested this:

image

To which SPG responded with finality:

image

I immediately looked up the T&C again. Everyone out their running a promotion stuffs the fine print to protect themselves against exigencies. However, here, it seems like the terms being advertised are differently being interpreted by the chain than by everyone else (the audience?!?)

image

Now, this is something I’d have not expected of Starwood, ‘misselling’ is the word? Their website is full of $20 upgrade promotions, and now their response says $20 is not applicable. I’m not clearly appreciative of this business practice.

Have you guys had any luck with the $20 upgrades on a consistent basis? Or is it just a hit and run for you guys as well. Do share your experiences here.

 

Related Posts:

 

Live From A Lounge is also present on Facebook, Twitter and available via RSS.

.

About Ajay

Ajay Awtaney is the Founder and Editor of Live From A Lounge (LFAL), a pioneering digital platform renowned for publishing news and views about aviation, hotels, passenger experience, loyalty programs, travel trends and frequent travel tips for the Global Indian. He is considered the Indian authority on business travel, luxury travel, frequent flyer miles, loyalty credit cards and travel for Indians around the globe. Ajay is a frequent contributor and commentator on the media as well, including ET Now, BBC, CNBC TV18, NDTV, Conde Nast Traveller and many other outlets.

More articles by Ajay »

Comments

  1. you should ask SPG an example(s) of 20 dollar upgrade on BAR..if they can’t find examples, that would lead to false advertising…

  2. I have had the same experience. Was looking to take advantage for my trip in Singapore in May…not going this route now. Not so cool SPG!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *